|
Dear Current and Future Software
Architects,
Software technology
is critically important to the world's businesses and
human society. However, software engineering remains
a chaotic, immature discipline, unable to systematically
deliver successful systems. Most software experts agree
that the missing, but necessary capability is software
architecture. But, for many software professionals,
there are unresolved questions about software architecture,
which are much deeper than academic discussions. In
particular, how do we apply software architecture on
real world projects and across business enterprises?
At the same time,
there are many successful practitioners of software
architecture who know how to answer these questions
from experience. Our series authors are carefully selected
from this community of practitioners. Often, they work
in companies that rely upon software system success
as their core business model (e.g. business systems,
telecommunications and financial services). These innovative
software architects have developed systematic disciplines
for their own work which consistently surpass the industry
averages for on-time, on-budget deliveries which meet
users' needs and expectations. Some of these experts
utilize published standards and patterns for software
architecture. Others can share unique lessons learned
based upon professional experience. We have discovered
significant commonalities in practical software architecture
knowledge which can be useful across most software applications.
Together, the joint knowledge of innovative software
architects represents the next generation of practice
for leading technologists in the software discipline.
The mission of the Software Architecture Series is to
publish a common body of knowledge for the software
architecture discipline.
Software architecture
is a specialty which is distinct from software engineering,
programming, and project management. A Software Architect
balances and resolves design forces from many perspectives,
including system stakeholders and system developers.
Software architects are responsible for a much wider
and interesting range of issues (technical, intuitive,
and human factors) than we typically associate with
project management. Software architects create technical
plans that coordinate the work of groups of programmers,
resolving significant system-wide risks and project/technical
inefficiencies. The Software Architect role is an important
career path for lead programmers and other IT professionals,
as an alternative to project management.
In this series, we
our goal is to establish the knowledge base for the
Software Architect career path. We hope to share the
comprehensive knowledge of successful software architects,
in a way that fundamentally changes how people do software.
To show better ways of working, and to develop individuals
(such as yourselves) into world class professionals
drawing from the acquired knowledge of a wide range
of peers in the software architecture profession.
We share these goals
a nonprofit organization, the Worldwide Institute of
Software Architecture (http://www.wwisa.com). As co-sponsors
of this book series WWISA has established a professional
discipline for Software Architects, through its membership
programs and outreach. Not everything we say in write
books is WWISA doctrine. However, we have made every
attempt to represent the best interests of the software
architecture profession, and we hope to convey the advice
that we would impart upon you, the next generation of
software architects. In conclusion, knowledge is power,
particularly for software architects.
We are giving you
the best of our knowledge in the hope that you will
fundamentally change the software profession, through
your individual practices, towards a mature discipline,
which achieves systematic success, in the development
of software systems. We hope that you derive all of
the benefits and professional recognition that is due
to you, as Software Architects. In this transition,
we do not expect your personal career to be trouble-free
and easy. But we do know that software architecture
is one of the most exciting fields of endeavor, and
we welcome you into our worldwide community!
Best Regards,
Thomas J. Mowbray,
Chairman,
Internet Component Management Group (iCMG).
|
